Jesse Jackson Jr. faces primary challenge for Illinois seat

Former one-term Rep. Debbie Halvorson said Wednesday she would challenge incumbent Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. for the Democratic nomination in the newly drawn 2nd Congressional District in Illinois.

"Our families are facing serious challenges, and they need a serious member of Congress who can get things done. Our neighbors don't need rhetoric, they need results, and I've delivered actual results for nearly twenty years. I'm running to bring real representation, real leadership, and real results back to our district," Halvorson said in a statement.

Halvorson was defeated in last year's midterm election by Republican Adam Kinzinger in the current southwest suburban and central Illinois 11th District. Some of the district was put into the new Democratic-drawn 2nd District, which was extended out from the city to help preserve an African American majority in Jackson's district.

Jackson has been in Congress since winning a special election in 1995.

Halvorson and Jackson have bitterly feuded over the control of a proposed third airport near Peotone.